Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2183117951984132/?source_id=181918175166472
February 18th
The Bible reading today is in Leviticus chapters 16,17,18.
I'm proud of how you have stuck with your Bible reading...even, if like me, you've been interrupted from time to time. But just in case the slow reading in Leviticus has caused you to wonder why...Leviticus?
Well.............
Genesis answers the question of how God provided Abraham with his promised nation.
Exodus answers the question of how God saves His chosen people from slavery and gets them to the land of promise.
And Leviticus answers the question of how God who is holy can relate to sinful people.
And that’s why it is a book for us today...because He is still holy and we are sinful. Iit reminds us of how we need His mercy every day....and...of our faithful mediator, Jesus, who not only atoned for our sins but also lives to intercede for us every day.
Today’s reading reminds us of the High Priest’s duties on behalf of Israel.
Before Aaron could appropriately offer sacrifices on behalf of the people of Israel, he was required to cleanse himself and atone for his own sins. Aaron’s foreshadowing of Christ’s Priesthood was never more than a shadow, especially on this point. Aaron was an intermediary like as Christ...but an imperfect one. Christ was God the Son...perfect in every way...He had no sin...thus He had no need to cleanse Himself as Aaron did.
Another duty of Aaron on the national day of atonement was the offering of two goats. A die was thrown to see which animal was killed and offered on the altar as a sin offering and which was used as the scapegoat.
After the sin offering was made, Aaron placed his hands on the head of the live goat. Then he confessed the sins of the congregation over the goat...as a symbol of God imputing the sin of the people upon the goat. Then Aaron would give the goat to a handler nearby who would then lead the goat away from the congregation...into the wilderness...a picture of how one’s sin was removed far from him...never to judge him again.
These two offerings foreshadowed what Jesus’ death accomplished for believing sinners...the sacrificial substitute to die in our place...and the taking away of our sins...no more to judge us.
Still Good News...
Have a good day.
